'at random' definitions:
Definition of 'at random'
From: WordNet
adverb
In a random manner; "the houses were randomly scattered"; "bullets were fired into the crowd at random" [syn: randomly, indiscriminately, haphazardly, willy- nilly, arbitrarily, at random, every which way]
Definition of 'at random'
From: GCIDE
- Random \Ran"dom\, a.
- 1. Going at random or by chance; done or made at hazard, or without settled direction, aim, or purpose; hazarded without previous calculation; left to chance; haphazard; as, a random guess. [1913 Webster]
- Some random truths he can impart. --Wordsworth. [1913 Webster]
- So sharp a spur to the lazy, and so strong a bridle to the random. --H. Spencer. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Statistics) Of, pertaining to, or resulting from a process of selection from a starting set of items, in which the probability of selecting any one object in the starting set is equal to the probability of selecting any other. [PJC]
- 3. (Construction) of unequal size or shape; made from components of unequal size or shape. [PJC]
- at random in a manner so that all possible results have an equal probability of occurrence; for processes, each possible result is counted separately although the same type of result may occur more than once .
- Random courses (Masonry), courses of stone of unequal thickness.
- Random shot, a shot not directed or aimed toward any particular object, or a shot with the muzzle of the gun much elevated.
- Random work (Masonry), stonework consisting of stones of unequal sizes fitted together, but not in courses nor always with flat beds. [1913 Webster]
Synonyms of 'at random'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- aimlessly,
- any which way,
- anyhow,
- anywise,
- around,
- at haphazard,
- at hazard,
- at intervals,
- at irregular intervals,
- brokenly,
- by catches,
- by chance,
- by fits,
- by jerks,
- by snatches,
- capriciously,
- carelessly,
- casually,
- desultorily,
- disconnectedly,
- discontinuously,
- dysteleologically,
- eccentrically,
- erratically,
- fitfully,
- haltingly,
- haphazard,
- haphazardly,
- helter-skelter,
- hit or miss,
- in snatches,
- in spots,
- inconstantly,
- indiscriminately,
- inexplicably,
- intermittently,
- irregularly,
- jerkily,
- lurchingly,
- nonuniformly,
- off and on,
- patchily,
- promiscuously,
- purposelessly,
- random,
- randomly,
- roughly,
- sloppily,
- spasmodically,
- sporadically,
- spottily,
- stochastically,
- unaccountably,
- uncertainly,
- unevenly,
- unmethodically,
- unpredictably,
- unrhythmically,
- unsteadily,
- unsystematically,
- variably,
- whimsically,
- wobblingly